Respiratory Syncytial Virus–Related Complications and Healthcare Costs Among a Medicare-Insured Population in the United States

Abstract

Abstract Background Literature describing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)–related complications in older adults in the United States is scarce. This study described risk factors of RSV-related complications and healthcare costs of Medicare-insured patients aged ≥60 years with medically attended RSV. Methods 100% Medicare Research Identifiable Files (1 January 2007–31 December 2019) were used to identify adults aged ≥60 years with RSV (index: first diagnosis date). Predictors of ≥1 RSV-related complication (ie, pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, congestive heart failure, hypoxia/dyspnea, non-RSV lower/upper respiratory tract infections, or chronic respiratory disease) during the up to 6-month post–RSV diagnosis period were identified. Patients with all aforementioned diagnoses during the 6 months pre-index could not be evaluated for a complication and were therefore ineligible for analyses. Differences between 6-month pre- and post-index total all-cause and respiratory/infection-related healthcare costs were assessed. Results Overall, 175 392 patients with RSV were identified. Post–RSV diagnosis, 47.9% had ≥1 RSV-related complication, with mean time-to-event of 1.0 month. The most common complications were pneumonia (24.0%), chronic respiratory disease (23.6%), and hypoxia or dyspnea (22.0%). Baseline predictors of ≥1 RSV-related complication included having previous diagnoses for complication/comorbidity listed in the Methods, hypoxemia, chemotherapy, chest radiograph, stem cell transplant, and anti-asthmatic and bronchodilator use. Total all-cause and respiratory/infection-related healthcare costs were $7797 and $8863 higher, respectively, post-index versus pre-index (both P < .001). Conclusions In this real-world study, almost half of patients with medically attended RSV experienced an RSV-related complication within 1 month post–RSV diagnosis, and costs significantly increased post-diagnosis. Having a complication/comorbidity pre-RSV predicted a higher risk of developing a different complication post–RSV infection.